Behaviour TOGETHER

Behaviour TOGETHER is a bespoke behaviour policy which has been designed with only Thornhill Community Academy in mind. It promotes the Academy’s values of Trust, Openness, Generosity, Equality, Tolerance, Humility, Emotional intelligence and Resilience, and relies heavily on reward. It also has very clearly defined sanctions for poor behaviour, and students can rely on the behaviour system being transparent and consistent across the Academy.

We want you to be an active and enthusiastic student, and we want to reward you if you do things right. However, if you make a mistake and do something wrong or behave poorly, you need to be punished for it.

You should work to try and be the best person you can be, and Behaviour TOGETHER will help to encourage you to do that.

Punishments

This Academy does not tolerate poor behaviour, and will deal with any poor behaviour strictly, and quickly. It is important that you understand what will happen if you do something wrong. This information is on every classroom wall in the Academy, and it is important that you understand it. The punishments for the behaviours are a MINIMUM, and every incident will be looked into in detail, to make sure that punishments are fair.

In lessons

In lessons, you are expected to do what is asked of you. Your teachers are here to teach you, and you are here to learn. We want you to feel safe, and enjoy learning, whilst having respect for everyone around you.

The following sanctions are given out for each incident of poor behaviour in the classroom:

First behavioural issue

Verbal warning (not recorded)

Second issue

B1 warning/sanction issued (and electronically recorded)

5 minute detention in department area

Third issue

B2 warning/sanction issued (and electronically recorded)

Movement in the classroom (teacher’s discretion)

Classroom based intervention (teacher’s discretion)

10 minute detention in department area

Fourth issue

B3 warning/sanction issued (and electronically recorded))

Removed to another classroom

Disruption of the lesson they have been moved to will result in removal to the Referral Room

Same day 30 minute detention

Around the Academy

We are proud of the Academy’s atmosphere, and we want you to positively contribute to this. We have high expectations of uniform, corridor behaviour, and conduct. Should you fail to meet these expectations, you will be given a Warning Card. The member of staff will explain that you have been given a Warning Card, and this will be given to your Head of Year, who will keep a record. If you reach seven warnings per half term, you will be given one day of Internal Exclusion, where you will work in absolute silence all day.

Detention

Academy detentions are a serious punishment. If you are given one, it is absolutely important that you attend. They run every day from 2.45 until 3.45. Your Head of Year will stamp your Student Planner if you are booked in for a detention at least 24 hours in advance.

Internal Exclusion

This is used for very serious incidents, and is a very serious punishment. One day in Internal Exclusion will mean no contact with your friends, and you will work at a desk in absolute silence. You will hand over any mobile phones and bags before you enter the Internal Exclusion room. These will be kept in a locked cupboard until you go home. Days in Internal Exclusion run from 8.40 until 2.45pm.

Registration, equipment and the Student Planner

You will be given a brand new Student Planner on your first day. This, and a pen, pencil, ruler and rubber, is vital to bring to every day at the Academy. Failure to bring your Student Planner on any day will automatically mean you are given a a 30 minute, same day detention. If you fail to bring key equipment on a morning, this will mean you get a Warning Card, and will go towards the seven per half term that mean you get a day in Internal Exclusion.

Rewards

We want to make sure you are rewarded for what you do well, and we will do this through TOGETHER points. Every member of staff will have a stamp and will stamp you for doing good things, making good decisions, and showing off the characteristics of TOGETHER well.

Positive student performance will also be rewarded in other ways:

Phone calls home from members of the Academy staff and the Senior Leadership Team

Letters home from the Academy praising students’ effort or work

Meetings with key staff to reward excellent behaviour or effort

Lapel badges with the Academy’s values on when students have clearly been seen to be working towards these

An annual Rewards Trip where students who have behaved and attended well throughout the year will be offered a range of exciting opportunities